F1 New Round-up #3

Here is some F1 News from over the past month including Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda renewing their contacts at Mercedes and the passing of John Surtees.

20/03/17

Williams retains Di Resta as reserve driver

Williams have announced that former F1 driver Paul Di Resta will remain as the team’s official reserve driver for the 2017 F1 Season.

Di Resta took on the role in 2016, and for the new season he will once again spend extensive time at races to ensure he is fully accustomed with the FW40, should he be required to step into the cockpit during the season.

Wolff and Lauda renew Mercedes contract

Team bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda have signed new contracts with Mercedes, tying them to the world championship squad until the end of 2020.

Both Wolff and Lauda have huge names within Mercedes and F1 since 2013. Both have helped Mercedes win 3 consecutive constructors championships with 3 driver titles for Lewis Hamilton and retired world champion Nico Rosberg.

GP2 renamed as FIA Formula 2 Championship

The GP2 Series has been rebranded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

It accomplishes an ambition set out by Jean Todt in his manifesto before he was elected for a second term as FIA president by completing the governing body’s motorsport ladder, starting with Formula 4, then progressing through Formula 3 and F2 to Formula 1.

John Surtees dies at 83

John Surtees, famously the only man to win world championships on both two and four wheels, has died at the age of 83.

1934 – 2017

He won six F1 races in 111 starts between 1960 and 1972, and also drove for Honda, Lotus, Cooper, Lola and BRM. Surtees was world champion in the 350cc motorcycling category as well as 500cc from 1958-60.